Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1893. WHAT ARE THE FACTS?

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9356, 27 April 1893, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1893. WHAT ARE THE FACTS?

for the whole colony, who will hold | periodical examinations at different potts, and perform other duties In connection vlth shipping.— LeWis H. B. 'Wilson, Assistant Secretary Marine, Wellington." Copy telegram to Hon. A. J. Cadmnn, M.H.8., dated February 6, 1893 ! "Certialnly explanation will be given to Captains Clayton and Tilly. The reasons are simply these: Government has deoided to apnolnt examiner on fixed salary, who, in addition to this duty, will Inspect shipping, and see law not evaded. No complaint whatever against Captains Clayton and Tilly. Wilson's telegram to my mind rather too brief.— B. J. SKDDON, Wellington." The Council, with this evidence before them, fail to see, as stated by yon, that their resolutions were " based on a myth, or upon what ' the man in the street ' say?," and they consider your reflections on this score are not deserved, and are hardly ingenuous. Having thas jnstified their protest against the abolition of local examiners, which Mr Seddon now asserts was never intended, the Conncil qnote instances at both Auckland and Dunedln to show that great inconvenience has already been cansed to candidates by the changes made, and remind Mr Seddon of a telegram addressed by him to Mr T. Thomson, M.H.K., showing that at in least one case he was aware of that inconvenience. " Much as they would wish to," quietly remark the Council, " with these fscts before them the Conncil can hwdly appreciate yonr assurance that 'equal, if not greater, facilities will be given to them to pass examinations,'" Mr Seddon's reputation, •ither for veracity or oourtesy, will hardly be enhanced by this correspondence.

It is related that at a dinner party at which Lord BeaconsiieM was present someone announced the approaching maulage of a certain Liberal M.P. " Thai) can't be true," remarked a, lady, " because he has a wife already." ll Oh," promptly replied the statesman, " he'll get Gladstone to explain her away." Mr Seddon, in a humble way, seems desirous ot emulating the Grand Old Man's capacity for " explaining aw jy " facts. Some time ago it was officially announced that the Government had decided to abolish the local examiners for masters' and mates' certificates, and to appoint two travelling inspectors to do the work for the whole colony. The Chambers of Commerce nt the four chief ports protested against the change, ana so did the Council of the Auckland branch of the National Assoiation. Mr Saddon's reply to the remonstrance of the latter body is before us. In personal lnt )rcourse Mr Seddon is usually courteous and genial, but when be puts pen to paper to reply to a political op» ponent he is the very reverse. His letter to the National Association is no excep- j tion to the rule, He said :— The Council are wrong iv coming to the conclusion that dispensing with the services of the present examiners meant doing away with local examinations in navigation and seamanship. The Government have not decide! to diapenae with resident examiners in navigation and seamanship, There being no such decision, it is impossible for the Government to review the same. The Council would act wisely iv future by making sure of Its premises, and not to pass resolutions based on a myth, or upon what the man in the street says. The Government) is fully alive to the fact that every facility and encouragement should be given to seamen towards their passing their examinations. There being no change of system contemplated, there will be no delay, trouble, or expense entailed upon candidates ; neither will they run any risk of losing their employment, their time, or money; nor will there be any difficulties placed in the way of the seamen rising in their profession, seeing equal if not greater facilities will given to them to pass their examinations, and when passed, their position as masters, mates, or seamen will be inproved, j That the Council not knowing the ! details as to how the examinations are to . be held, or by whom, or at what cost, it acted rather hastily la passing a resolution stating that no retrenchment would bo effected, but on the contrary that an additional cost would be entailed on the Department. That when the change la put in practice the Council will find there will be a large saving, and an improvement in the method of conducting examinations, Not knowing the proposed change, the Council is not in a position to assert that inconvenience will be caused to the tnerohant service, or that anything detrimental to the commercial ports will arise. Mr Seddon concluded by saying that when the estimates for the coming year are brought clown a large saving will be shown on the cost of examinations. Thi latter looked like a "facer" for the association, but that body " came to the soratch" and gave Mr Seddoa a .Roland for his Oliver. After a gently saroastic expression of gratification that the protesta made against the proposed changes had led to their reconsideration, the lette r went on to nay : — The Council are, however, pained at ! having your denial that there was an intention to do away with resident examiners in navigation and seamanship, in the face of the two telegrams, addressed to Captain Tilly and the Hon. A. J. . Cadman, copies of which are as follows .•— Copy telegram to Captain Tilly, dated 6th February, 1893: "Minister directs roe to state that Government were quite satlsned with manner in which you have performed your duties, and that only " reison for dispensing with services of • I yourself and other examiners wan becimse ( I it has been decided to have two examiners